Machine for decorticating the fibrous leaves or stems of plants



May 11 1926.

' E. WRIGHT MACHINE FOR DECORTICATING THE FIBROUS LEAVES 0R STEMS OF PLANTS Filed July 22', 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet gigg y/? wai itfiig E. WRIGHT MACHINE FOR DECORTICATING THE FIBROUS LEAVES 0R STEMS OF PLANTS May 11 1926. 1,584,586

Filed July 22, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 rare-lea May11,1926.

sates FATE-hi nannsr WRIGHT, or riivivsn, ENGLAND.

Application filed July 22,-

-This invention relates to machines for separating by combing and scraping, on both sides, the fibrous parts of leaves or stems of plants from the pulpy or woody parts thereof, and wherein rows of pins are atfixed to a drum and such. pins are cleaned by metal or other bars having scraping edges moving longitudinally thereof during the travel of the drum. The fibre is pressed on to the pins and scraped by arms of a second drum or wheel and the fibre is lifted off the pins by the ears after the combing has been ell'ected and is thus prevented from wrapping around the drum.

The object of my invention is to so construct the mechanism or appliances used with apparatus of this character that a more efiective scraping and combing of the leaves or stems can be effected.

My invention will be clearly understood from the following description aided by the annexed drawing.

Figure 1 is a section of my improved mechanism as applied to a. frameot a machine. Figure 2 is a plan of the machine.

According to my present invention 1 position between each single or multiple row of combing pins 1 around the drum 2 a series of scraper blades 3. That is to say, I may have on the one drum, say, six single rows of pins 1 with, say, five scraper blades 3 between each adjacent pair of rows of 31118, as shown, but I am not restricted to this number, On the other or pressure drum or wheel 4 I position at parts corresponding to each row or multiple rows of pins a trough 5 or troughs and between these troughs 5 I position a series of blades having scraper edges 6.

The two drums 2 and 4 are geared together so that the troughs 5 and blades 6 of the drum 4 loosely mesh with the pins 1 and scraper blades 3 of the drum 2.

The scraper blades 3 and 6 may be secured to their drums 2 and a in single lines or each section may be cast complete as shown and the section secured to the drum.

The usual feeding rollers 7 7 and table 8 are employed which, as usual, are driven at a lower speed than the drums and I may employ draw off rollers 9, 9 together with an endless band 10 for carrying away the fibre.

The cleaner bars 11 are connected to discs 12 positioned eccentrically on an eccentric 13 mounted on the frame 16 so that the clean 192d. Serial No. 727,594.

er bars 11, as they are revolved, move longitudinally of the pins 1 to clean same.

The drum 2, mounted on the axle 14, and the eccentric 13 are adjustably positioned ith regard to each other to determine the degree of eccentricity with one another and thus to obtain variation in the range of reciprocation of the cleaner bars 11 about the pins 1 and the eccentrics 13 are locked to the frame by nuts so that the drum and discs revolve as one, as is well known.

The drums 2 and t, revolving at a greaterspeed than the feed rollers 7, 7, act upon the leaves or stems so that the pins 1 and scraper blades 3 and 6 perform a scraping and combing action and, as each leaf is engaged between the scraper blades 3 and 6, such leaf will be strained between the scraping edges of the blades of each section on the two drums 2 and 1, a scraping action being effected on both sides of the leaf or stem while the pins 1 pass into and comb through the leaf or stem. During the rotation of the drums the cleaner bars 11 reciprocate radially with respect to the pins 1 lifting the fiber from the pins and preventing it from being wound around. the drums.

Each scraping blade, rows of pins and trough are of such a width apart that, when the engagement or meshing takes place, neither blade or pin and trough touch each other and the blades may be of such a depth that they may be free of the base on the op posite drum or be such that the scraping edge of each blade of one drum may have action on t ie outer periphery or segment on the other drum.

By this construction I can, say, first scrape on both sides by the blades and then comb by the pins and so on alternately during the revolution of the drums.

The numeral 1'? represents the driving pulleys and 18 the gear for driving the drums and rollers.

lVhat I do claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a machine for decorticating the fibrous leaves or stems of plants of the kind described, co-ordinated drums each having cooperating scraper blades acting upon the material to be decorticated, the blades of one drum extending into the spaces between the blades of the other drum, but out of contact with the walls of said spaces, and rows of pins arranged 011 one drum in alternation with one or more blades on said drum, oo-

operating with correspondingly arranged trough-shaped elements on the other drum.

2. In a machine for decorticating the fibrous leaves or stems of plants of the kind described, co-ordinated drums each having cooperating scraper blades acting upon the material to be decorticated, the blades of one drum extending into the spaces between the blades of the other drum but out of contact with the walls of said spaces, rows of radially arranged pins on one drum alternating with one or more blades on said drum and cooperating with correspondingly arranged trough-shaped elements on the other drum, and cleaning means for said pins revoluble with said pin-carrying drum on an axis eccentric to that of said drum, whereby said cleaning means reciprocate radially of said pins. 1

3. In a machine for decorticating the fibrous leaves or stems of plants of the kind described, co-ordinated drums each having cooperating scraper blades acting upon the material to be decorticated, the blades of one drum extending into the spaces between the blades of the other drum but out of contact with the walls of said spaces, rows of radially arranged pins on one drum alternating with one or more blades on said drum and cooperating with correspondingly arranged trough-shaped elements on the other drum, cleaning means for said pins revoluble with said pin-carrying drum on an axis eccentric to that of said drum, wherel' y said cleaning means reciprocate radially of said pins, and means for adjusting the eccentricity of the axis of said cleaning means to vary the range of rceiprocatory movement thereof.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

ERNEST \VRIGHT. 

